autobiography of Sa`ad Mohammad
Sa`ad is a Pakistani mountaineer who was born in Karachi, grew up in Islamabad and I settled in Lahore. He produces digital & broadcast media and delivers keynotes that are bound to inspire. He also dabbles into performing arts & aviation, has an MBA degree from GC University, Lahore and was president of the Dramatics Club at GC University during 2004-05.
The highlights of his mountaineering experience are:
- Camp III 7,060m of Mt. Everest in 2017
- Summiting Spantik 7,027m as part of the Pak-China Friendship Expedition in 2012
- 6,630m on Gasherbrum I in 2018
- 6,200m on Gasherbrum II in 2019
- 5,500m on Rakhiot Peak in 2020
- Climbing two virgin peaks – Ra’na Kook Ser – 5,525m & Moamee Mariya Kataria Ser – 5,457m, in alpine style in Shimshal in Aug/Sep 2015.
- Reaching 5,325m on Falak Ser as part of an attempt to summit the highest mountain of the Swat region in 2014.
His first ever 5 episode adventure TV series – The Chashkin Challenge, went on air on Indus News in May & June 2019. Following the success of the first TV series his second project for the channel – Into The Icefall has been going on air since November 2019. He also independently produced a long documentary for Discover Pakistan TV regarding his expedition to Rakhiot Peak in 2020. He also regularly posts exciting content on his Youtube Channel.
Why Mountaineering?
According to him mountaineering for him has been a very gradual progression. As a child he was part of a family that travelled a lot. He was very well travelled by the age of 10 and had been to Khunjerab, to Chitral, to Skardu to Kaghan & Naraan and had seen most of Europe and a bit of the US. He started trekking in the late 90s and by 2005 had seen enough lakes, base camps and passes to decide that he now wanted to go higher. So in 2006 he attempted a 6,000m trekking peak in Shimshal Valley and has never looked back. For him going to the mountains once or twice a year is more of a sabbatical that sets the tone for the next few months. He believes that climbing mountains has given me a purpose in life.
Sa`ad’s Broad Peak Mission 2021
In July this year Sa`ad and his team are attempting Broad Peak 8,047m. This is Sa`ad’s 4th attempt on an 8-thousander, we pray that may he reach the summit this time. Lining up brand partners and getting logistics in order is always a challenge. Gobi’s Paints is his main sponsor, Arif Baig from Shimshal is assisting him and Asif Bhatti from Islamabad has joined forces with him to make this attempt a success.
Asif and Sa`ad flew into Skardu on the 1st of July, arrived in Jhula on 3rd July and arrived at the Broad Peak Base Camp at 4,850m on 8th. Arif Baig arrived the next day and they quickly settled in and did their first rotation to Camp I at 5,600m followed by a quick second rotation to Camp II at 6,200m. They touched an altitude of 6,500m as part of the second rotation before climbing down to the Base Camp on 17t July. Currently they are waiting for the next good weather window to make their summit bid, which is expected to be on 24th July.
Sa`ad fondly talks about Muhammad Ali Sadpara and other fallen and forgotten heroes and hopes that their legacy will help more and more Pakistani climbers take up this neglected sport. We wish him the best of luck and health and we believe that Sa`ad’s mission to promote adventure tourism and mountaineering as a sport in Pakistan has immensely helped in promoting the soft image of Pakistan.
